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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The No. 17 UC San Diego women's water polo team came up short in the final quarter of play, dropping an 8-6 decision to No. 7 UC Irvine at Canyonview Pool Sunday afternoon.

UCSD now holds a 6-8 overall record while UCI sits at 10-6 on the year.

Down 2-0 in the first quarter of play, Alexis Wieseler put the Tritons on the board at the 2:02 mark with a skip shot from six meters.

The Triton defense kept the Anteaters scoreless through the first three minutes of the second quarter as UCI had multiple fast break opportunities. Wieseler netted her second goal of the game to even the score at two. Just a minute later, Irvine regained the lead with a bar-in by Taylor Morrison. The final three minutes of the period went scoreless, with UCSD missing a man-up opportunity, allowing the Anteaters to take a 3-2 lead into the break.

Sarah Lizotte opened the second half with a goal to the top right corner to tie the game for a second time. Unfortunately for the Tritons, UCI netted two straight goals through the middle of the third quarter to regain a more comfortable lead at 5-3.

With just under a minute left in the third, Rachel Brooks scored on an off-speed shot to keep UCSD within one as the teams entered the final eight minutes of play.

UC Irvine took control during the final quarter as Kelsey Klatt scored a bar-in and Cambria Shockley knocked in another to put the Anteaters up 7-4 mid-way through the fourth.

Julia Kirkland found the net with a high skip out of six-on-five play, but UCI answered quickly with an open look on goal with no defensive help in sight.

Down 8-5 with 17 seconds remaining in the game, Wieseler tallied her third goal of the afternoon, but it wasn't enough as the Anteaters held on for the win.

The Tritons had twice as many six-on-five opportunities (10-5) than their opponent.

Courtney Miller made nine saves for UCSD and Julian Yocum finished with 13 for UCI.

UCSD will participate in the Claremont Convergence March 8-9, before playing across town in San Diego State's Aztec Invitational March 16-17.